RE: Lotus Evora 400
Discussion
dandarez said:
Hmm.
1 word.
Dreamer.
Backed up with ... 'no new cars for 5 years and only then 'if'..'
Sold fewer than 1500 cars last fin. year. Will double next fin. year... Hmm
Revamped Evora is £75k
And Gales holds '12-15' meetings DAILY! with staff from all departments, most standing up and under 30 minutes long. "It's hard but it's a lot of fun," he says. The staff must be reeling.
...when do the staff get chance to work?
Ah, back in the welcoming womb like embrace of PH. It's normally at least 3 or 4 posts on a topic before a doom monger gets in, so hats off for being so quick out of the blocks.1 word.
Dreamer.
Backed up with ... 'no new cars for 5 years and only then 'if'..'
Sold fewer than 1500 cars last fin. year. Will double next fin. year... Hmm
Revamped Evora is £75k
And Gales holds '12-15' meetings DAILY! with staff from all departments, most standing up and under 30 minutes long. "It's hard but it's a lot of fun," he says. The staff must be reeling.
...when do the staff get chance to work?
Edited by dandarez on Wednesday 18th February 00:46
DBR-Hicom must be kicking themselves that they didn't give you the Lotus CEO gig.
MikeGalos said:
OK. They're almost at the point where I'd give up my Elise. What's left to do is:
1) Make a drophead version
2) Change the gearing to put more into acceleration and less into top end (I really don't need 186MPH but a 3.9sec 0-60 would be nice)
3) Get rid of the L O T U S label on the center console. I know what kind of car I'm in.
Do that and I'll be on the waiting list for the US version and have a deposit at the dealer the day they're willing to take them.
I'm sure you could spec it without the lettering on the console, they're quite accommodating like that. Item 2 on your list might be a bigger ask; item 1 is a recurring rumour and fingers crossed it comes to pass!1) Make a drophead version
2) Change the gearing to put more into acceleration and less into top end (I really don't need 186MPH but a 3.9sec 0-60 would be nice)
3) Get rid of the L O T U S label on the center console. I know what kind of car I'm in.
Do that and I'll be on the waiting list for the US version and have a deposit at the dealer the day they're willing to take them.
I'd sell a kidney to have another Evora, but sadly in car terms mine are like a high mileage car that has been repeatedly spanked on both road and track...
I really hope this works for Lotus, as I want them to stick around and build more cars. I can't help think the design is a little fussy on the rear and as some have said, it will not age well in time.
The front looks aggressive, not sure about the LED strips. No doubt with these revisions it has the package to compete with rivals.
Good luck Lotus!
G
The front looks aggressive, not sure about the LED strips. No doubt with these revisions it has the package to compete with rivals.
Good luck Lotus!
G
There's only one thing I'm not overly keen on (well two really) that rear spoiler light, not keen at all, kind of spoils the look of the rear end (and if it has a second use as has been mentioned, then it could've been done better). Secondly, price, means I'll never get my hands on one 
jamesaevans said:
I completely agree, looks over styled and too much like the new Honda NSX.
I think that it will date very quickly, but will probably sell well in China anyway.
They should have just gone with the engineering changes which sound great and made it look like the Evora GTE, which is a much better design in my opinion:
I do worry with the Porsche Cayman GT4 being announced just a couple of weeks ago how this will impact sales of the Evora 400.
However, I really hope that it sells well and helps Lotus return to profitability so they can continue building great cars.
Totally agree. For £70k it should look like the GTE, that rear end is a mess.I think that it will date very quickly, but will probably sell well in China anyway.
They should have just gone with the engineering changes which sound great and made it look like the Evora GTE, which is a much better design in my opinion:
I do worry with the Porsche Cayman GT4 being announced just a couple of weeks ago how this will impact sales of the Evora 400.
However, I really hope that it sells well and helps Lotus return to profitability so they can continue building great cars.
Looks good to me but out of my price range currently, mechanical changes sound good - Car itself looks a lot nicer than beforehand to me.
Would i choose this over a GTR? Would have to drive them back to back to find out but i have always wanted to have a lotus as some point.
Really do hope this works our for them.
Would i choose this over a GTR? Would have to drive them back to back to find out but i have always wanted to have a lotus as some point.
Really do hope this works our for them.
sh33n said:
£75k - blimey.
Wonder if this will push down prices on older ones a chunk? I've been eyeing an early Evora or possibly S for a while, but just can't justify the outlay...but if they slipped a bit I could see one itching that toy gap my garage has had for a while.
I would expect (and hope!) not. Given the price of the new car, I expect the demand will still be strong for the limted used supply.Wonder if this will push down prices on older ones a chunk? I've been eyeing an early Evora or possibly S for a while, but just can't justify the outlay...but if they slipped a bit I could see one itching that toy gap my garage has had for a while.
The mechanical and interior improvements are undeniable, but the exterior ones are slightly underwhelming for me. Any news on the convertible version?
The Lotus Cars website doesn't even have anything about this coupe on it yet! Surely they should have updated that at midnight when they issued the press release? It's not like they're launching a new model every week like Porsche & Co.
Edit: I'd want mine in a brighter colour too.
The Lotus Cars website doesn't even have anything about this coupe on it yet! Surely they should have updated that at midnight when they issued the press release? It's not like they're launching a new model every week like Porsche & Co.
Edit: I'd want mine in a brighter colour too.
Edited by LotusOmega375D on Wednesday 18th February 09:09
This looks fantastic - just what the Evora needs and nothing it doesn't need. I have a lot of faith in the new boss' plans for Lotus and it all seems like the right thing to do.
On another note, it would seem odd to leave the Exige down at 350bhp - I wonder if that'll have an upgrade to 400bhp too? If it does that'll be utterly fantastic - it's already the best road car I've ever driven and stunningly fast in a straight line for something sub £100k with comfort, a roof and air con etc.
An Evora with 400bhp though sounds wonderful and hopefully many of the other little niggles will get sorted too. £70k is way over my head price wise, but perhaps secondhand when I eventually quit racing and track driving in perhaps 10 years?...
On another note, it would seem odd to leave the Exige down at 350bhp - I wonder if that'll have an upgrade to 400bhp too? If it does that'll be utterly fantastic - it's already the best road car I've ever driven and stunningly fast in a straight line for something sub £100k with comfort, a roof and air con etc.
An Evora with 400bhp though sounds wonderful and hopefully many of the other little niggles will get sorted too. £70k is way over my head price wise, but perhaps secondhand when I eventually quit racing and track driving in perhaps 10 years?...
Would really like to see a side by side picture comparison. I've been waiting for this car, I'm certain it'll drive better etc etc but it just doesn't look as 'elegant' as the last one, especially the back. Maybe its just the colour.
Still looking forward to the reviews. £70k sounds closer to £75k plus with options. Fingers crossed they've got it right.
Still looking forward to the reviews. £70k sounds closer to £75k plus with options. Fingers crossed they've got it right.
With regard to thew meetings, I don't think it is with all the staff all the time so likely they have plenty of time to do the work and less time growing turnips.
From the photos it looks like the have been 90% successful. Just a shame about that Hyena roofline.
I wonder if both Gales and Bahr had been let loose on Lotus with Bahr sorting out the future and Gales doing what he is doing now, the future would look even brighter.
Gales seems to be very committed and to be succeding, so hopefully Lotus will not be sold again or take a left turn into a ploughed field again.
From the photos it looks like the have been 90% successful. Just a shame about that Hyena roofline.
I wonder if both Gales and Bahr had been let loose on Lotus with Bahr sorting out the future and Gales doing what he is doing now, the future would look even brighter.
Gales seems to be very committed and to be succeding, so hopefully Lotus will not be sold again or take a left turn into a ploughed field again.
Finally a boss at Lotus who sees selling cars as a viable business proposition and is working hard to take control of costs.
400bhp is a big enough number to satisfy the 'drives well but needs more power' brigade, and making the car easier to get an and out of will help (my wife's biggest gripe about the Lotuses I've had) as will headline figures like 300km/h. The styling is not really intended to appeal to the Lotus purist I'd wager, but look at the styling cars coming from other manufacturers at the moment and it fits in well; it's still a stylish and distinctive car.
For once, I'm hopeful for Lotus.
400bhp is a big enough number to satisfy the 'drives well but needs more power' brigade, and making the car easier to get an and out of will help (my wife's biggest gripe about the Lotuses I've had) as will headline figures like 300km/h. The styling is not really intended to appeal to the Lotus purist I'd wager, but look at the styling cars coming from other manufacturers at the moment and it fits in well; it's still a stylish and distinctive car.
For once, I'm hopeful for Lotus.
The rear styling is too fussy for my tastes but I'm sure it will help it sell. The rear bumper reminds me a little of the GTR Nismo's.
At first glance the weight saving looks tiny at 22kg, but when you consider things like the bigger supercharger and intercooler and higher quality interior (usually, that means heavier!), bigger brakes (?), re-engineered tub etc, it's a good sign of how seriously they are taking the weight issue.
I guess it makes sense to get rid of the cross-over between the Exige S and the base Evora. Instead, there is a clear hierarchy with Elise, Exige and (fast) Evora.
Monsieur Gales knows what he's doing. Good luck to him and Lotus. I remain a bigger fan of the old base Evora but Lotus have to sell cars and this 400 will sell.
At first glance the weight saving looks tiny at 22kg, but when you consider things like the bigger supercharger and intercooler and higher quality interior (usually, that means heavier!), bigger brakes (?), re-engineered tub etc, it's a good sign of how seriously they are taking the weight issue.
I guess it makes sense to get rid of the cross-over between the Exige S and the base Evora. Instead, there is a clear hierarchy with Elise, Exige and (fast) Evora.
Monsieur Gales knows what he's doing. Good luck to him and Lotus. I remain a bigger fan of the old base Evora but Lotus have to sell cars and this 400 will sell.
Edited by braddo on Wednesday 18th February 09:21
jamesaevans said:
I do worry with the Porsche Cayman GT4 being announced just a couple of weeks ago how this will impact sales of the Evora 400.
Why would that be a worry? If you had followed the GT4 threads you will be aware that Porsche are not bringing in enough cars for demand and half the people who want them will not be getting one as a consequence. Rather than harm the market for the Lotus, the Cayman might just have made one for it...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff